Response of in vitro cultures of potato, tomato, apple rootstock, and bitter almond to a culture medium supplemented with municipal solid waste

Abstract

In vitro cultures of Spunta’ potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), ‘Fiona F₁’ tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), ‘MM 106’ apple rootstock (Malus domestica Borkh), bitter almond (Amygdalus communis L.) were grown on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with municipal solid waste (MSW) compost at 0,3,6, or 9 g L⁻¹. Thirty‐five days later, cultures were evaluated for number and length of proliferated shoots and roots, callus size, and visual quality. (Concentrations of tin (Sn), arsenic (As), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), cadmium (Cd), and iron (Fe) in the culture medium and in potato microshoots were determined. As the percentage of MSW in the medium was increased, concentrations of all elements increased. Concentrations of As, Cu, Zn, and Ni in potato microshoots increased consistently and significantly as the MSW percentage in the medium was increased. Municipal solid waste had no effect on number or length of potato roots. The highest number of potato shoots was obtained with the unamended medium or media supplemented with 9 g L⁻¹. No rooting was observed on tomato, apple, or almond cultures. Number and length of tomato shoots were reduced as a result of supplementing the medium with MSW, however, quality of shoots was improved. Callus size was greatest in unamended medium or medium supplemented with MSW at 3 g L⁻¹. Number and length of apple and almond shoots were reduced in the media supplemented with MSW.